Applications for the 2027 Barbara Ensey Award are now being accepted.
Merce Cunningham Trust: Barbara Ensley Award
The Merce Cunningham Trust’s Barbara Ensley Award provides support for young BIPOC dance artists making the transition from school training programs to professional dance careers. The award aims to expand opportunities for BIPOC dance artists to engage with and benefit from the legacy of Merce Cunningham, and to provide the resources and stability to explore and participate in the broader New York City dance community.
The award is named in honor of Barbara Ensley (1936-2021), a longtime faculty member of the Merce Cunningham Studio. Ensley, who was selected by Cunningham to teach at his studio, was the only Black woman on the faculty. As the primary teacher of the Fundamentals Class, Ensley was the first teacher for countless newcomers to the studio. She is remembered for welcoming and encouraging new students, and for providing a thorough and insightful introduction to Cunningham Technique. This award honors Barbara Ensley’s contribution to the Cunningham legacy, and advances the Trust’s commitment to create and sustain an environment of belonging and inclusion.
The award will be given annually and will run for a six-month period. Candidates will submit an application for review by a selection committee coordinated by the Trust.
At the outset of the program, the recipient will meet with a Trust advisor to identify areas of special interest, to learn about relevant resources and activities, and to be paired with a mentor from the professional dance community. In collaboration with the advisor and mentor, the recipient will design a plan for pursuit of professional interests and goals. At the conclusion of the program, the recipient will submit a written reflection and sit for a final interview.
The Barbara Ensley Award has multiple components including:
1. Financial support. The recipient will receive a grant of $10,000 to support improving or enhancing their artistic capacity and skills as they transition into a professional dance career. In their final report, the recipient will be asked to describe how they used the grant money and its impact on their artistic development.
2. Mentorship by a professional dance artist. The recipient will be paired with a mentor for periodic discussion and reflection. This mentorship is intended to provide a venue for inquiry and self-evaluation, and a bridge to the professional dance community. The mentor will receive an honorarium from the Trust.
3. Performance opportunities. Pending the timing of the Trust's ongoing programs, the recipient may be invited to participate in an special project.
Applicants must have completed or expect to complete a college-level training program or the equivalent between May 2024 And June 2027. For information about applying for the Barbara Ensley award, click here.
The recipient may also incorporate into their program any or all of the following:
- Cunningham workshops. The recipient will be invited to participate free of charge in periodic Cunningham repertory and chance operations workshops both to deepen their understanding of Cunningham’s work, and to develop their professional skills. The awardee will also be encouraged to participate in other workshops in the city.
- Access to archival materials. The recipient will be given access to Cunningham archival materials (video, choreographic notes, photographs, performance records, etc.). Guidance in studying and analyzing these materials will be offered, including introductions to individuals with expertise in particular areas of interest.
- Performance opportunities. Pending the timing of the Trust's ongoing programs, the recipient may be invited to participate in an special project.
Applicants must have completed or expect to complete a college-level training program or the equivalent between May 2024 And June 2027. For information about applying for the Barbara Ensley award, click here.
Eligibility requirements:
- Applicants must be dance artists who self-identify as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, people of color)
- Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent U.S. residents.
- Applicants must reside in the New York City area during the six-month term of the award.
- Applicants must have completed or expect to complete a college-level training program or the equivalent between May 2023 and June 2026.
We are seeking candidates who have clear professional goals and who can articulate how the financial and artistic resources provided by this award will help them advance toward those goals. Candidates should be self-reliant, motivated, and demonstrate the discipline and work habits to make the most of the program. Consideration will be given to current artistic achievement, although potential for growth is more important. Previous experience with Merce Cunningham’s technique or repertory is not required.
For information about applying for the Barbara Ensley Award, click here.